94 SPOTLIGHT
Freeride friendly
BIC Techno Wind Foil 130L and carbon wind foil 2019
Info: https://world.bicsport.com/windsurf/boards/techno-pro-wind-foil-130.html Price: carbon board SRP £2,150; carbon foil SRP £1,500
WORDS: WINDSURFING UK PICS: JAMES JAGGER
THINK YOU KNOW BIC AND THEIR TECHNO RANGE? THINK AGAIN…
For 2019 BIC introduce their full carbon
windfoil/windsurf board: the Wind Foil
130L And yes, it’s that way round.
Rather than have a windsurf board
that’s foil ready, instead BIC are calling
their new school sled a windfoil board
that’s windsurf ready. In conjunction
with the brand’s full carbon windfoil,
designed by the very apt Foil & Co, it’s a
machine we were very much looking
forward to getting to grips with.
Out the box and it’s a very attractive
board, with lines echoing a modern
trend. Short and stubby (relatively)
there’s no mistaking it’s a windsurf
board yet it’s nowhere near the BIC
Techno shapes of a few years ago.
Instead this is a high tech looking
vehicle that screams performance yet is
still aimed at the recreational sailor.
Meanwhile the carbon foil is a typically
well thought out piece of kit that leans
on the higher aspect types currently
available. Modular in nature you can
break it down for easy transport and
storage. We also noted how light it is,
which is no bad thing.
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WIND
SURFING
Having attached the foil via standard
mechanisms (two bolts) it’s a package
that’s a doddle to get to the water’s
edge. Existing foilers will appreciate the
cumbersome nature of moving
connected windfoils and boards around
so anything to alleviate the strain is
welcome.
On the water BIC’s Wind Foil 130 is
stable at rest yet doesn’t feel its actual
size (81.5cm width). The scooped out
deck (up front) brings you closer to the
water and gives a very ‘in touch with
surroundings’ ride off the foil. With a bit
of power, and the odd pump or two, the
foil generates progressive lift which gets
flyers elevated efficiently. It’s not a
bucking bronco like some which newbie
or progressing foilers will appreciate.
Once at height it’s a twitch free ride that
remains composed even in the face of
gusty conditions. Favouring a slightly
back leg flying positing it’s more
windsurf in terms of stance which a lot
of users will also appreciate. Round
corners isn’t too anxiety inducing with
the board’s width giving a secure
platform for anyone with fumbling feet.
Experience foilers will be able to ramp
up the speed to a moderate set of revs
and find fulfilment with upwind and
downwind runs.
Conclusion
In foil mode BIC 2019 Wind Foil 130
and carbon foil are examples of
performance flying kit that delivers
on its promise of getting you
airborne without hassle, plus not
breaking the bank. Designed in
France it’s an impressive package
that delivers on the pure free foiling
front sitting somewhere between
total beginner and outright race
face – everyman then. We loved it
and found it to be one of the
easiest (new) set ups to pilot and to
boot its full carbon without too
hefty a price tag.